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Fertility treatment - rules and regulations

Fertility treatment in Turkey is regulated by statute and has strict rules that limit availability. Surrogacy and IVF with donor eggs or sperm is not available. Married couples can access a wide range of treatments using their own gametes at very competitive prices in clinics with good facilities.

The healthcare system in Turkey

Turkish fertility specialists have usually spent some time working in European or US clinics and are usually certified in another country as well as holding a specialist IVF certificate from Turkey. They should also have membership of ESHRE, the European Society of Human Reproductive Endocrinology.

A country that straddles Europe and Asia, Turkey has been a popular holiday destination for several years. It has long stretches of beautiful coastline, many heritage and historical sites of international interest, and the cities of Istanbul and Izmir.

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Fertility treatment in Turkey

Fertility clinics in Turkey specialise in treating women who are over 35 and is an attractive option for women who can only join a lengthy waiting list for IVF in their own country, or who find the cost of repeated cycles unaffordable. Prices are generally half that charged for the same procedure in the USA.

When choosing a fertility clinic, look for one that is ISO 9001 certified, and get a full quote of all the costs that will be incurred in writing. The average prices quoted may not include anaesthetics or sedatives, drugs not related directly to the treatment, and theatre and hospital charges.

Turkish regulation is strict when it comes to treating single women and same sex couples, as same sex marriage is not recognised. The use of donor sperm and donor eggs is explicitly forbidden for IVF and other fertility treatments – even intrauterine insemination with donor sperm is banned within Turkey and it is illegal for Turkish women to travel abroad to obtain it.

Regulation of the 115 fertility clinics in Turkey is by statuteand the country has a national licencing body that covers the practice of assisted reproduction and all laboratory manipulation of embryos.

Turkey will only treat women who are marriedno singles or same sex couples are considered eligible.

Surrogacy and gamete donation are banned as is all embryonic stem cell research. Since 2010, it has been illegal for women to travel abroad for artificial insemination with donor sperm.

ISCI

Allowed

Pre implementation generic digonisis

Allowed and used

Micromanipulation

Not allowed

Assisted hatching

Allowed

IVF surrogacy

Not allowed

Availability

treatments are more restricted than in many other countries; only married couples are treated, sperm, egg and embryo donation are not practiced. Surrogacy is illegal.

Donor anonymity

sperm, egg or embryo donation not allowed.

Donor offspring limits

sperm, egg or embryo donation not allowed.

Embryo transfer policies

up to three embryos can be transferred.

Embryo storage rules

embryos can be frozen up to 5 years; the couple must still be married to allow embryos to be thawed and transferred.

Sperm use after death

not allowed.

Average prices for IVF in Turkey

Costs for treatments vary with individual clinics; the following is a rough guide based on prices quoted in January 2012.

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Cost of fertility treatment in Turkey

Price Factor

The price factor gives an indication of the cost of treatment in different countries and at different clinics.

It is based on the relative cost of one cycle of IVF treatment inclusive of all medicines, consultations and tests.

A score of 100 means that the cost is equivalent to the average cost at all clinics providing prices within our database. A score of less than 100 means that the cost is below average. A score of above 100 means that the cost is above average.

Featured fertility clinics in Turkey

Compare fertility treatment providers in Turkey

The healthcare system in Turkey

Fertility clinics within Turkey are usually situated in the major cities, particularly Istanbul and Izmir. Fertility specialists in Turkey are European or US-trained and are usually certified in another country as well as holding a specialist IVF certificate from Turkey. They should also have membership of ESHRE, the European Society of Human Reproductive Endocrinology. All fertility clinics are assessed by an official Turkish learned society in this field, and they then hold a diploma that allows them to practise.

Standards are comparable with major European fertility centres and travel from anywhere in the EU takes less than 4 hours. The popularity of Turkey as a holiday destination means that couples travelling here for fertility treatment can take advantage of cheaper summer season flights, and the wealth of hotels and resorts to relax in when not visiting the clinic for treatment.

About Turkey

Turkey is a fascinating country to visit, an interesting mix of Asian and European with a long history, evidenced by its many historic sites such as Ephesus, the famous Roman city, the Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum at Harlicarnassus. The last two are both wonders of the ancient world. Turkey is also the site of the reputed final resting place of Noah’s Ark, on the top of Mount Ararat. Archeologists have proposed a site in Anatalia as the most ancient human settlement, which was established 6500 years before the birth of Christ.

The capital city of Istanbul is rich in culture and also offers a varied mix of modern city living. Attitudes to life are, nevertheless, very traditional and some would view Turkey as having a tendency towards being a male-dominated society with nationalistic beliefs that border on racism. Having said that, people in Turkey are some of the most approachable and friendly in the world when it comes to tourists visiting their country. Nothing is too much trouble and it is rare to come across a hotel receptionist with a scowl or a bartender or waiter who is surly and unresponsive.

Turkey is not a religious state and it has been trying for several years to become a fully-fledged member of the European Union even though much of its land mass is technically within the Asian continent. Turkey’s neighbours to the east include Iran, Iraq, Syria and Armenia but it also borders Greece and Bulgaria across the Bosphorus. Tourists like to visit Istanbul for its history and ancient sites mixed with street bazars and markets combined with shopping and nightlife but the main draw are the beach resorts that lie along the Mediterranean coast.

When planning your trip here, research the location of your chosen clinic well so that you can make the most of your stay to explore the country to relax when you are not required at the clinic.

Population:

about 73 million

Currency:

Turkish lira (TRY)

Capital:

Ankara

Language:

Turkish: staff in fertility clinics speak English and other EU languages and sometimes Arabic.